Trump defends tariffs at Michigan GM plant as approval slides ahead of midterms

Trump's pitch in Michigan

President Donald Trump took his economic message to a General Motors facility in Milford, Michigan, on Monday, framing his tariff policies as the catalyst for a manufacturing renaissance. He accused previous administrations of betraying auto workers, saying "globalist politicians and corrupt special interests" had let other countries "steal your jobs, pillage your factories and loot the crown jewels of American industry." Trump insisted that his 25% levy on foreign cars and light trucks was forcing companies to bring production back to the US. "Outside countries and companies were coming in and just robbing us blind," he said. "But now all of that is changing because I placed historic tariffs on foreign producers and manufacturers." He told the crowd that building a plant in America means facing no tariff at all. The White House pointed to GM's $6 million investment in US manufacturing, along with smaller commitments from Ford, Stellantis and Detroit Diesel, as evidence the strategy is delivering. Trump also claimed the country is "building more auto factories and more plants than at any time in the history of our country."

Economic reality in the state

Michigan's economy, however, is struggling. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show the state added only 500 jobs in the 12 months through June, compared with 177,900 in Texas. Michigan now has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. While some automakers have reshored production, overall manufacturing employment has declined since Trump returned to office. The average petrol price has climbed to $4.11 a gallon, up from $3.15 a year ago, as the conflict in Iran has choked off oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Thirty-year mortgage rates have risen to 6.58%, intensifying the affordability crisis for households.

Tariff escalation with Canada

Michigan's deep economic ties to Canada make it especially vulnerable to Trump's trade war. A 25% tariff already applies to non-US content on Canadian-assembled passenger vehicles and parts not covered by the USMCA. Steel tariffs add further costs. The administration plans to raise the rate to 50% on some Canadian goods, including autos, in August. Canada has retaliated with its own 25% tariffs on US vehicles and non-compliant content. Last year, vehicle production fell across all three North American countries, with Canada recording the steepest decline of 5.4%, according to TD Bank.

Slipping support ahead of midterms

Trump's approval among the blue-collar voters who helped return him to the White House in 2024 has eroded sharply. A CBS-YouGov poll last week found his support among white, non-college-educated voters had fallen from 63% in early 2025 to 51%. On his handling of the economy, approval among the same group slid from 60% to 45%. In Michigan, an EPIC-MRA poll last month recorded a 33% approval rating, down from the 49.73% of the vote he won in the state in 2024. Trump won Michigan in 2016, lost it in 2020, and reclaimed it in 2024, but his standing there is now under pressure.

David Dulio, a political science professor at Oakland University, said the economy is largely responsible.

People don't connect those announcements with those gaudy numbers to what's happening in their everyday life like they do gas prices or grocery prices.

Dulio added that the president's approval generally tracks economic indicators, and Trump is no exception.